Decorating Diaries - To Tape or Not to Tape

Oh, oh.  First rumble between Blair and myself about the decorating and we haven't even finished selecting colors.  The "rumble" is about whether to tape off the copious amount of trim in our bedroom before we paint the walls this weekend.  Blair is in favor of it, I am against.

I have my reasons all lined up like the good little Vulcan I am.  They are:

• Taping creates more work than it alleviates. 
• Blair wants to tape to protect the trim from spatters but the trim is already lightly spattered from where I painted before so that's not buying us anything.  If anything, we'll just touch up the trim after we're done painting the walls.
• I have yet to find a painter's tape that doesn't rip, to some extent, the paint off whatever it's taped over
• When we've used tape in the past, we've ripped off chunks of the wall color when we removed the tape

I got worked up into a pretty good huff about it this morning while Blair, as always, was patient.  We agreed to a "we'll discuss it more tonight" settlement. 

Regardless, we will be painting this weekend which should make for some entertaining blog entries on Monday. Cheers.

Family & Promotions

I love my family.  My sister called today and said, "I was telling some women I work with about your book.  And about your blog, only I couldn't remember what you called it.  I told them it was 'Why Everyone Should Listen to Me,' or 'Why I'm Smarter Than All of You.' Isn't it something close to that?"

I clapped a hand to my head.  "Yes, I suppose it is."

"Yeah, so they said they might want to buy your book only I couldn't remember your website."

"You mean the one where I spell out my name?" I ask. (It's www.denaharris.com)

"Right.  I couldn't remember if it was that or ddharris.com like your e-mail. But I'm sure they'll find it."

You see, this is why God made PR specialists.  To overcome the damage done by good family intentions. (Ha ha...just kidding sis!)

Dena on TV - Take Two

Spent this morning taping the 30-minute TV segment for Greensboro Community Access TV. The "Take Two" in today's title is accurate - we had to shoot it twice.

I was a little nervous going in because I never know where to look with TV.  I tend to oogle the host so I don't have to look at the camera.  But we had our 30-minute segment and I thought it went pretty well.  Then the producer motioned the host back to the cutting room.

"Uh-oh," I thought.  "I did something wrong.  My mike wasn't working.  I used too big of gestures and obliterated my face when I spoke. Something." Tyrone, the host, came back.

"We need to do that again," he said.  "They didn't have the recording equipment set up properly. "

So we ended up taping the entire show again.  I did well except for one question where I went on so long in my answer I forgot what the original question was.  I finally remembered and managed to bring it back around but it was not the most succinct of answers.

Better was that on the 2nd go-around Tyrone asked me to give my contact info, so I was able to cite my www.denaharris.com website.  Not a direct plug for the book, but anyone who visits there will certainly be able to find their way to the book with no problem.

Not sure when the piece will air.  Probably sometime in August.  And I have no idea how many people will see it.  I'm guessing being local cable it won't be hordes.  But it just takes the right person seeing it to make a difference.

Now I must go scrub my face.  I actually put on foundation today and in this 110 degree heat we're having (I kid not) I feel like my face is about to melt off.

More reasons I should never bear young...

As if I needed further proof, a 3 1/2 hour visit from my almost 4-year-old nephew today has once again shed a glaring light on the fact that I must never, ever be allowed to breed.

I have such a need to CONTROL.  My nephew dropped his napkin on the floor.  "Please pick that up," I said. He grinned at me and said "No."

I swear, I just wanted to reach over and whack that smile off his face.  I am not a violent person so where does such rage come from? Control issues, for sure.  It infuriates me that I can't make him do what I want.

And just having kids in the house puts me on edge.  For example, I set out cheese, crackers and strawberries and watched my nephew like a hawk as he ate the strawberry while sitting on our rug, barely following the conversation as my mind was occupied with what I could put on the rug if strawberry juice dripped on it.

Apparently my many hours spent watching Nanny 911 and Nanny Rescue (I'm addicted to both shows) are for naught. 

Such experiences make me deeply, deeply appreciate stay-at-home moms and dads (I know 2 stay-at-home dads who are excellent so we can't leave them out!).  These people are AMAZING to me and deserve not only our full respect and admiration, but heaps of praise and a standing ovation.

For those of you out there raising your young, you are better people than me.  I salute you.